Beira is becoming increasingly
competitive, writes Martin Rushmere
ZIMBABWE'S IMPORTERS and exporters are making life unnecessarily expensive for themselves by using Durban rather than Beira, says Unifeeder regional manager. in Harare, David Sly.
He says there is still a reluctance to use the Mozambique route even though it is 20% cheaper.
I can understand some of their nervousness because they are not able to track their shipments the whole way. But there has been a tremendous improvement recently, with a monitoring system already in operation between Harare and Mutare. It will be installed on the section to Beira by the end of April.
Sly acknowledges that there have been problems with the Beira track, but says that these are being sorted out by CFM Central.
Extra money has been allocated and specialist staff have been made available.
Volumes of traffic on the line have not increased as much as they should have.
Tobacco consignments through Beira account for 36.5% of total exports of the crop, with Durban taking the rest. More could go through Beira, says Sly. The port should be seen as a serious option, particularly by importers.
Zimbabwe's rail cargoes through the port total
about 750 000 tonnes a year. Unifeeder operates the weekly northbound and southbound services to Beira from Durban.
Road haulage, until now at negligible levels, is set to grow considerably. We have begun a major effort to increase this traffic, says Sly.
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